Albion w



(No Model.)

A. w. TOURGBE.

. BREAST COLLAR FOR HORSES.

No. 343,210. Patented Junev 8, 1,886.

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NITED STATES ALBIOIT \V. TOURGEE, OF

PATENT Fries.

MAYVILLE, NENV YORK.

BREAST-COLLAR FOR HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,210, dated June 8, 1886.

Application filed October 13, 1885. Serial No. 179,744. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBION W. TOURGEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mayville, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breast Collars for Horses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the IO art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class ofbreast-collars for horses in which a wide leather strap extends across the breast of the horse about the level of the shoulderjoint, and is supported in such position by a strap extending over the shoulders and neck, the weight of the traces upon the rear portion of said breaststrap serving to keep the same in place, the object of my present improvements being to increase the general efficiency of such collars, to equalize the line of draft, and to obviate the chafing and galling of the animals shoulders; and my invention consists, essentially, of a breast-collar formed of one or more plates of metal or other suitable mate- ;0 rial adapted to present a smooth surface and partake of an almost inelastic character, said collar being connected to the suspending strap or straps and to the traces by certain novel devices, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my complete invention; Fig. 2, a detail perspective view of the neck cap or pad; Fig. 3, a detail perspec- 0 tive View of the trace-fastener, and Fig. 4 a detail sectional view of the same.

Similar letters of reference occurring on the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent 5 the two sections of the breast-collar, which are each formed of one or more plates of metal or other suitable material possessing the necessary requisites of smoothness and inelasticity, the same being preferably formed of metal plates struck up into the desired shape, and having the edges thereof turned over in an oval or fiat beading. These upset edges may be made to hold other. plates of the same or other material, and extending for the whole or a part of the length of the main plate or plates for either strengthening or ornamenting the same. These sections A A are intended to be suspended by the straps B-B, one on each side, in such manner that the upper edge, a, of each plate or section will be nearly horizontal and somewhat higher up on the side of the ani- 'mals shoulder than is attained by the rear portion of the ordinary breast-collar. From said upper edge, a, of each section the collar is cut lower and the bottom edge thrown somewhat backward in the middle to prevent pressure on the wind-pipe of the animal and obviate choking. Toward the rear portion of each section the outer or lower edge, I), is flared or curved to fit over the shoulder of the horse and allow pressure to be applied without injury to the same.

The two sections A A, forming the breastcollar, are unitedtogether at the front by means of aplate, O, of like rigidity, placed either up 75 on the outer or inner side of the collar, and attached thereto by suitable bolts acting either in separate holes in said plate 0 or in suitable slots in the same to allow the separation of the sections, so as to widen the collar, if desirable. It is obvious, however, that the breast-collar may be formed of one continuous length instead of in two sections, and such construction is hereby contemplated by me.

The suspending straps B B may be made either of metal or leather, or of leather with sheet metal turned over on its edges, as may be deemed most preferable, and may extend over the top of the horses neck in one continuous length for attachment to the sides of the breast-collar to hold the same in position. The said suspending-strap is, however, preferably formed of two sections, one on each side, the lower ends being pivotally secured to the upper ends of the breast-collar, and the upper ends of said straps being pivotally secured also to a metallic cap, E,which is adapted to rest upon the horses neck to prevent abrasion and avoid disturbing the position of the collar when in operation.

The strap is provided on each side of the breast-collar with a buckle or other suitable means for permitting of an adjustment up or down, as may desired.

The metallic cap E is adapted to fit the depression-on the top of the neck of the horse 5 just where it joins the shoulder, and is provided with a series of perforations, 6, upon each lower end to permit of the adjustment backward or forward of the straps B B.

To the rear ends of the breast-collar. one on each side, is provided a trace-fastener, F,which consists of a metallic box of a suitable length and width and deep enough to receive the trace G, which is perforated near the end to receive a bolt, d, which passes through from the rear end of the collar plate and through the bottom of said box, a suitable washer, f, being interposed between the said collar and box to permit of the free movement of the trace and its fastener. The cover 9 of said box is corrugated upon the under side and provided with a central opening for the end of the bolt d, which is held in place by an ornamental nut or thumb-screw, h, upon the outside, as fully shown in Fig. 4. The object of this construction is such as to permit of the attachment of the trace pivotally and adj ustably to the rear ends of the breast collar by means of the various connecting-holes i there-- in, so as to preserve the proper equilibrium and keep the line of draft where it will be easiest for the horse.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. A breast-collar formed, as described, of one or more rigid and inelastic plates of suitable material disposed as shown, and provided with the suspending-straps B B, metallic cap E, and trace fastener F, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. A breast-collar consisting of two parts or sections, A A, formed of one or more rigid and inelastic plates of suitable material united together at the front by the plate 0 and suitable engagement bolts, and provided with the suspending strap or straps B B, metallic cap E, and trace-fastenerF, substantially as specifled.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBION W. TO URGEE.

Witnesses:

S. E. KILBOURNE, E. K. TOURGEE. 

